Colostomy bag, belt, and drying frame



July 31, 1956 G. PALA COLOSTOMY BAG, BELT AND DRYING FRAME 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15 1955 INVENTOR. Geo/"g6 PG/a BY AttorneysJuly 31, 1956 G. PALA COLOSTOMY BAG, BELT AND DRYING FRAME 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15 1955 INVENTOR. Geo/"9e Pa /c7 WZQPYYWW 0m Atier-megs COLOSTOMY BAG, BELT, AND DRYING FRAME George Pala, Hayward,Wis. Application February 15, 1955 Serial No. 488,260

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-283) This invention relates to colostomy devices, andmore particularly has reference to an improved colostomy bag andsupporting frame therefor, which is particularly adapted to fit thewearer comfortably and yet snugly, even when the wearer is exceptionallyactive, without danger of slippage of the open end of the bag from aproper position.

The invention further refers to a belt especially adapted for detachableconnection to the bag supporting frame of the invention, and so designedas to coact with said frame in fitting the device tightly and yetcomfortably to the body of an active wearer.

An object of importance is to so design the colostomy frame as to insurethe retention thereof in proper position against the body of the wearerwhen the bag is being worn, even during periods of considerable muscularexertion. Ordinarily, colostomy bags are so designed as to tend towardslippage from a proper position should the wearer be engaged in activepursuits, and thus, conventional colostomy bags of which I haveknowledge are suited etficiently mainly for use by relatively inactivepersons.

Another object of importance is to provide a bag supporting frame whichwill be strongly constructed with a wire frame member molded in anannular rubber bag supporting element, the wire frame member being sodesigned as to take the contour of the wearers body after a few days ofnecessary adjustments.

A further object of importance is to so form the frame as toparticularly adapt the same not only for permanent and firm connectionto the annular rubber bag support, but also for connection to a novellydesigned belt that is especially well suited for use by active persons.

Still another object is to provide an improved drying frame for acolostomy bag, which is so shaped as to facilitate the drying of the bagafter it has been washed, thus to give the bag a chance to air out fullyand eliminate odors.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a colostomy device formed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 4, diametricallyof the upper portion of the colostomy device;

Figure 4 is a sectional View on line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a drying frame used when the devicehas been washed prior to reuse, the colostomy bag being shown in dottedoutline on said frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral designates abag support frame, including an annular rubber body in which is moldedthe intermediate portion of an endless wire frame member 12. The wireStates Patent O frame member has been shown to particular advantage inFigure 4, and as will be noted, is of relatively elongated, rectangularformation, having sides 14 integrally formed, medially between theirends, with oppositely curved portions 16 concentric with the rubbersupport 10. The portions 16 are molded within the rubber support, beingoffset a short distance from the center point of the circularly crosssectioned support as shown in Figure 3. The straight end portions of thesides 14 project outwardly from the support 10 in opposite directions,and merge at their outer ends into end portions 17, each of which isformed medially between the sides 14 with an inwardly projectingU-shaped part having a bight 18 embedded in the rubber bag support 10 inconcentric relation to the bag support, said bight 18 being formed tothe same radius as the intermediate portions 16. Extending from oppositeends of the bight part 18 are legs 20 converging in the direction of theassociated ends 17 of the wire frame member and spaced a short distanceapart at their convergent ends.

This construction has been found to be particularly adapted to provide afirm reinforcement for the rubber bag support 10, which reinforcement,due to the provision of the curved intermediate portions 16 and'bightportions 18, occurs at proper intervals over the full circumference ofthe annular bag support. Further, the provision of the U-shaped partdefines at opposite sides of each U-shaped part short straight endportions on the frame ends 17, adapted to receive a belt in a manner tobe presently described.

Opening upon the outer circumference of the annular support 10 is acontinuous, relatively narrow circumferential groove 24.

A colostomy bag, formed of suitably thin latex material, has beendesignated at 22, and has a beaded open end 23 resiliently distendablefor engagement in the peripheral groove 24.

At one location on the circumference of the bag support 10, a radialmarking 26, which can be in the form of a shallow groove, is provided,this marking being alignable with a cooperating marking 28 on the upperend of the colostomy bag. The purpose of this is to properly adjust thebag in a circumferential direction relative to the support 26, when thebag is being connected to said support, so that the bag will hangproperly when the device is being worn. A belt has been generallydesignated at 30, and is formed of two pairs of elastic members, themembers of each pair being designated at 32. At one end, the members'32of each pair are connected to an end of a connecting piece 34, while attheir other ends, the members 32 are provided with hook elements 36engageable about the end portions of the frame ends 17.

The device illustrated and described is particularly adapted to be worncomfortably by active individuals, who may be performing manual labor orwho may otherwise indulge in relatively strenuous physical activity. Itis important, of course, that the bag be held in proper position uponthe body at all times, and it is obviously desirable that the bag befitted as comfortably as possible to the body of the wearer. The bagillustrated and described is particularly designed to meet thesedesirable objects, and it has been found in use that the wire frame isso designed as to cause the bag support to take the contour of thewearer's body after a few days of experimental adjustments. The bag,when worn, stays at all times in proper position, even during heavyphysical activity.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a drying frame generally designated at38, which is used when the bag 22 is detached from the bag support 10for the purpose of being washed. After the bag has been washed, theframe 38 is inserted therein, thus to resiliently stretch the bag andhold the same open over its full length, thus permitting it to dry outthoroughly and to eliminate any odors that may tend to persist after thebag has been washed. The frame 38 is formed from wire material, andincludes a pair of e1ongated lengths of wire 40. Each length of wire isreversely bent intermediate its ends to provide a bight portion 42thereon, and the bight portions of the two lengths are crossed at 90degree angles to one another.

Intermediate their ends, the legs of each piece of wire are bent alongcurving lines, as at 44, to provide angular extensions on the length ofwire. At those ends of the legs remote from the bight portions 42, theextremities of the legs are bent inwardly as at 46 and are secured incrossing relation, these portions of the legs of the drying frameextending diametrically across the open end of the bag 22 when the bagis being dryed.

The colostomy device shown, it will be noted, is particularly adapted tofacilitate not only the wearing and cleaning of the bag, but also theattachment or detachment of the bag relative to the associated bagsupport 10.

scribed above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it maybe suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to thespecific construction illustrated and described, since such constructionis only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it beingconsidered that the invention comprehends any minor change inconstruction that may be permitted within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and abag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open endthereof, said frame including an annular bag support having a peripheralgroove in which is engaged the open end of the bag, and a reinforcingwire frame member approximately oblong in outer configuration, saidframe member being embedded intermediate its ends in diametricallyopposite portions of the annular bag support, the ends of the wire framemember projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the bag supportand being adapted for connection of a belt thereto.

2. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and abag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open endthereof, said frame including an annular bag support having a peripheralgroove in which is engaged the open end of the bag, and a reinforcingwire frame member approximately oblong in outer configuration, saidframe member being embedded intermediate its ends in diametricallyopposite portions of the annular bag support, the ends of the wire framemember projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the bag supportand being adapted for connection of a belt thereto, said ends of thewire frame member having intermediate opposite sides of said member,inwardly projecting U-shaped portions having bight parts embedded indiametrically opposite portions of the bag support spacedcircumferentially of the portions in which the sides of the frame memberare embedded.

3. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and abag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open endthereof, said frame including an annular bag support having a peripheralgroove in which is engaged the open end of the bag, and a reinforcingwire frame member approximately oblong in outer configuration, saidframe member being embedded intermediate its ends in diametricallyopposite portions of the annular bag support, the ends of the wire framemember projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the bag supportand being adapted for connection of a belt thereto, said ends of thewire frame member having intermediate opposite sides of said member,inwardly projecting U-shaped portions having bight parts em bedded indiametrically opposite portions of the bag support spacedcircumferentially of the portions in which the sides of the frame memberare embedded, the bight parts and the portions of the sides of the framemember embedded in the bag support being curved about a common centerand being concentric with the bag support.

4. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and abag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open endthereof, said frame including an annular bag support of molded materialand having a peripheral groove in which is engaged the open end of thebag; a reinforcing frame of wire material embedded in the bag support,the reinforcing frame being of generally rectangular formation, thesides of said reinforcing frame having curved parts medially betweenopposite ends thereof molded into the bag support in concentric relationto the bag support, the ends of the reinforcing frame being formed,medially between the opposite sides of the reinforcing frame, withU-shaped parts extending inwardly of the frame, said U-shaped parts eachspacing the end portions of the associated reinforcing frame ends fromone another, the U-shaped parts each including a curved bight concentricwith the bag support and embedded in the bag support at locations spacedcircumferentially thereof from the intermediate portions of thereinforcing frame sides; and a Waist encircling belt, said beltcomprising two pairs of spaced elastic members, the members of saidpairs having means at one end connectable detachably to the end portionsof the frame ends at opposite sides of the U-shaped parts, said beltfurther including a connecting member attached to the other ends of saidelastic members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,086,002 Stewart Feb. 3, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,047,381 France July 22,1953

